High school sports: Preps of the week

TAYLOR SNYDER, Salem Hills, baseball: Few players have had a more impressive 2013 season than this senior shortstop.

Snyder leads the state with nine home runs, including two last week against Orem. He's batting .456 with 34 RBIs heading into this week's marquee showdown with Maple Mountain. He also has three doubles and a triple.

Thanks in large part to Snyder, Salem Hills is 17-2 on the season and ranked No. 1 in Class 4A.

Salem Hills crushed Orem last week in a pair of Region 8 games, 14-2 and 18-8. Snyder homered twice in the 14-2 win.

Last year Snyder was named to the Deseret News first team with a .444 batting average, 17 doubles, 27 RBIs and four home runs.

PAIGE REIMANN, Bingham, softball: Paige Reimann isn't a natural born leader. But when you deal the kind of heat she does, your teammates naturally look to you for guidance.

"She's more of a laid-back person, but she's someone who can be so dominant on the mound, it's kind of natural that people lean on you," said Bingham head coach Mikki Jackson. "She has become more assertive and more comfortable in that role this year. ... As time goes by she's become more and more of a leader."

In fact, when Reimann is working her magic in the circle, her teammates seem to play just a little tougher, as well.

"When she shows that focus, others tend to follow her," Jackson said. Reimann's skills have helped the Miners to a promising start, and she boasts a 10-3 record as pitcher. She is also a talented hitter with four home runs, including three in a single game.

Additionally, the tough, hardworking pitcher is also a dedicated student, being one of seven players on the team who earned a 4.0 last quarter.